Dough storage container system

ABSTRACT

A stackable dough storage containment system uses nesting stackable interlocking pan bodies having a locking system for connecting the bodies, such that a pan body in a stack can be locked to pan bodies stacked above and below it. The locking system includes locking members positioned on the outside of each pan body near its base, forming locking connections with locking interfaces located on the outside of each pan body near its top. In the preferred embodiments, the locking members are radial pins and the locking member interfaces are bayonet joints. This allows each pan body to be dropped into position in the open top of the pan body below and rotated slightly to form a secure connection. Vents in each pan body release gases generated during the rising process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention deals with a dough storage container system for use inthe production of pizza.

2. Description of Related Art

In the pizza industry it is necessary for dough balls or buns to be massproduced and stored on site for use during rush periods. Thus, forexample, restaurateurs often must produce large numbers of dough balls,allowing them to rise, and store them in a convenient, easily accessedform for later use.

The first part of this process is accomplished primarily using doughproofing/rising pans. Proofing pans are typically round aluminum pansthat can be stacked, but cannot be firmly locked together. These pansare inconvenient to use as they take up a substantial amount of counteror shelf space when they are spread out over available surface areas,and cannot be reliably stacked in a manner that will not allow them toeasily be knocked over. Moreover, rising dough can overflow from suchpans causing a mess and/or cause a pan stack to tip over. The aluminumor other metal tends to dent, which makes stacking more difficult as thepans are used over time, and metal pans need to be oiled to aid releaseof the dough.

In addition to proofing pans, pizza dough trays are often used,especially for more long-term storage. Such trays are typicallyrectangular with a flat bottom and sides rising high enough to protectdough balls arranged in orderly rows. These trays are usually stackableand allow a large number of proofed dough balls to be stored in arefrigerated environment for use when needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a stackable dough storage containment system forsecure and convenient use in holding pizza dough during and after theproofing stage, using nesting stackable interlocking pan bodies, witheach pan body having an open interior defined by contiguous side wallsand a base. A locking system is used for connecting the pan bodies suchthat any pan body in the stack can be securely connected and locked toanother pan body stacked above it and can also be securely connected andlocked to another pan body stacked below it. When arranged in thismanner, the bottom of each pan body covers the open top of the pan bodystacked below it, providing a secure lid for that pan body. For thetopmost pan body, a lid using the same locking system is provided.

The locking system of my invention includes locking members positionedon the outside of each pan body near its base. These locking membersform a locking connections with locking interfaces located on theoutside of each pan body near its top. These connections can take avariety of forms, but in the preferred embodiments illustrated anddiscussed below, the locking members are radial pins and the lockingmember interfaces are bayonet joints. This allows each pan body to bedropped into position in the open top of the pan body below and rotatedslightly to form a secure connection. The secure joining of the panbodies creates a seal that prevents the escape of dough, however a ventis provided to release gases generated during the rising process.

The system of the invention also serves to create a secure stack of panbodies that takes up less space and is resistant to toppling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 provides a side view of a pan body with lid as used in my doughcontainer storage system.

FIG. 2 provides a cross-sectional view of a pan body taken along line2-2 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 provides a view from above of a pan body as used in my doughcontainer storage system.

FIG. 4 provides a side view of a stack of three pan bodies of my doughcontainer storage system with a lid on the uppermost pan body.

FIG. 5 provides a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIG. 1, my dough container storage system is based ona unique pan body 1 with a lid 2. As is usual with baking and risingpans, pan body 1 is defined by contiguous side walls 1A and a base 1B.Base 1B defines a bottom for pan body 1 with an open top 1C oppositetherefrom. Pan body 1 also has a locking system with interfacing lockingelements located on its exterior near its open top 1C and base 1B. Thislocking system allows pan body 1 to be connected to lid 2 and to otherpan bodies in a stack. (See, e.g., pan bodies 11, 21, and 31 in FIGS. 4and 5).

In the preferred embodiments illustrated, the interfacing lockingelements of my locking system use a bayonet joint type drop and twistconnection. This system is ideal for use with the type of round panbodies 1, 11, 21, and 31 illustrated. It allows the base of the roundpan body (e.g., base 1B of pan body 1) to be dropped into the open topof a lower pan body and rotated slightly to make a secure connection.(This could not be done if a pan body was, for example, rectangular.) Aknurled rim 30 at the top of each pan body 1, 11, 21, 31 assists theuser in handling the pan bodies and in rotating the pan bodies duringthe connection/locking process.

Locking members for this system (pins 4, 14, 24, and 34) are positionedon the exterior of, respectively, pan bodies 1, 11, 21, and 31 proximatethe base of each. Each of pan bodies 1, 11, 21 and 31 is also providedwith locking member interfaces (comprised of, respectively, verticalslots 3, 13, 23, and 33 and horizontal slots 5, 15, 25, and 35). Theseare positioned on the upper portions 6, 16, 26 and 36 of, respectively,pan bodies 1, 11, 21, and 31.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper portion 6 of a pan body 1 has aslightly wider diameter than the base 1B of the pan body 1. This allowsthe base of another pan body to rest nest snugly in the upper portion 6(and open top 1C) of pan body 1 without settling down into its openinterior 7. (This, in turn, preserves open interior 7 for dough proofingand storage purposes). Thus, as exemplified in FIGS. 4 and 5, first panbody 11 can nest snugly in the upper portion 26 of second pan body 21which, in turn, nests snugly in the upper portion 36 of third pan body31. In this manner, pan bodies 11 and 21 act as lids for, respectively,pan bodies 21 and 31.

As an option, the uppermost pan body 11 in the stack may be providedwith a separate lid 2 with an insertion portion bearing locking pins 9.Alternatively, waxed paper could be laid on top of the dough in theuppermost pan.

In addition, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper portion 6 of a panbody 1 is provided with a vent 8 proximate its top for releasing gasesgenerated during the proofing process. When pan bodies are nested insideeach other, vent 8 will be adjacent the base of an upper pan body. Thisallows gas to escape, but prevents dough from blocking and/or squeezingout of vent 8. The venting can be built into the locking arrangement, asshown, or it could be provided as a weep hole inside the pan.

My invention can advantageously be produced from food safe materials,including plastics such as polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadienestyrene (ABS), or some other thermoplastic such as Noryl® (registeredtrademark of General Electric). Ideally, interior surfaces should becoated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (better known as Teflon®—aregistered trademark of DuPont), or can be produced using food safe oilimpregnated raw stock for easy release of dough.

In addition, my locking system could use thread locks, dovetail locks,compression locks, or taper twist locks. Numerous other variations arealso possible.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of theinvention herein described are merely illustrative of the application ofthe principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of theillustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of theclaims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential tothe invention.

1. A dough storage container system, comprising: a plurality ofstackable pan bodies, each of such pan bodies having an open interiordefined by contiguous side walls and a base, said base defining a bottomof each such pan body with an open top opposite therefrom; each pan bodyfurther comprising a locking system for connecting said pan bodies,comprising at least one lock element on an outside surface of the sidewalls adjacent the base, and at least one interlocking element on theside walls in the open interior, adjacent the open top; such that a panbody can be connected to another pan body stacked above it and can beconnected to another pan body stacked below it by interlocking the lockelements on one pan with the interlocking elements of another pan.
 2. Adough storage container system as described in claim 1, wherein a baseportion of each such pan body is nestable in the open top of a pan bodystacked below.
 3. A dough storage container system as described in claim2, wherein the a pan body provides a lid for the open top of a pan bodystacked below when nested in the open top of said pan body stackedbelow.
 4. A dough storage container system as described in claim 1,further comprising a lid, said lid connecting via said locking system tothe top of a pan body and covering the open top of said pan body.
 5. Adough storage container system as described in claim 4, in which the lidcomprises a portion nestable in the open top of the pan body it covers.6. A dough storage container system as described in claim 1, whereinsaid lock elements comprise radial pins and said interlocking elementscomprise bayonet joints.
 7. A dough storage container system asdescribed in claim 1, wherein each such pan body has at least one ventproximate its top for releasing gases generated in its interior.
 8. Adough storage container system as described in claim 7, wherein said atleast one vent will be adjacent a base portion of an upper pan body,when said upper pan body is nested in the open top of the pan body wherethe vent is located.
 9. A dough storage container system as described inclaim 1, wherein said pan bodies are round, and said locking systemallows a pan body above to be connected to a pan body below by placing abase portion of said pan body above in the open top of the pan bodystacked below and rotating at least one of said pan body above and saidpan body below.
 10. A dough storage container system as described inclaim 10, wherein a pan body has a knurled rim around its open top forgripping and rotating the pan body.
 11. A dough storage containersystem, comprising: a plurality of stackable pan bodies, each of suchpan bodies having an open interior defined by contiguous side walls anda base, said base defining a bottom of each such pan body with an opentop opposite therefrom; a locking system for connecting said pan bodiessuch that a pan body can be connected to another pan body stacked aboveit and can be connected to another pan body stacked below it; andwherein said pan bodies are round, and said locking system allows a panbody above to be connected to a pan body below by placing a base portionof said pan body above in the open top of the pan body stacked below androtating at least one of said pan body above and said pan body below.12. A dough storage container system as described in claim 11, whereinthe base portion of each such pan body is nestable in the open top of apan body stacked below.
 13. A dough storage container system asdescribed in claim 12, wherein a pan body provides a lid for the opentop of a pan body stacked below when nested in the open top of said panbody stacked below.
 14. A dough storage container system as described inclaim 11, further comprising a round lid with an insertion portionnestable in the open top of a pan body it covers, said lid connectingvia said locking system to the top of a pan body and covering the opentop of said pan body.
 15. A dough storage container system as describedin claim 11, wherein said locking system includes interfacing lockingelements positioned proximate the base and top of each pan body.
 16. Adough storage container system as described in claim 11, wherein saidinterfacing locking elements include radial pins located proximate thebase of each pan body and bayonet joints located proximate the top ofeach pan body.
 17. A dough storage container system as described inclaim 11, wherein each such pan body has at least one vent proximate itstop for releasing gases generated in its interior.
 18. A dough storagecontainer system as described in claim 17, wherein said at least onevent will be adjacent a base portion of an upper pan body, when saidupper pan body is nested in the open top of the pan body where the ventis located.
 19. A dough storage container system as described in claim12, wherein a pan body has a knurled rim around its open top forgripping and rotating the pan body.